Royal River Conservation Trust

STEWARDSHIP

WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP?

“Stewardship is the on-going, long-term commitment of time and resources to the conservation of land, and its implementation is essential to RRCT’s ability to protect land in the future. RRCT will strive to practice exemplary stewardship of its lands, always protecting ecological values and when appropriate and feasible, providing compatible human uses. Important components of our stewardship will include development of a local land ethic, community involvement, and a focus on the quality of each visitor’s experiences at our preserves.”
Stewardship Committee definition, December 2006

Land stewardship seeks to reconcile the ecological health of preserved lands with low-impact human uses through far-sighted management. A major component of land trust stewardship includes annually ensuring that the terms of conservation easements are met, and helping landowners meet those terms. Stewardship also entails managing invasive plants, maintaining trails and public access, developing property management plans, and ensuring that ongoing land uses do not jeopardize the ecological integrity of the landscape. In all of these endeavors, RRCT’s Stewardship Department welcomes the time and energy of volunteers!

ON-GOING PROJECTS

RRCT's Stewardship Program is very pleased to report that it recently received a grant from Bank of America to begin developing a service-learning project involving Bates College students with invasive species management at the Littlejohn Island Preserve.